Georgia: European Lawmakers Call for International Probe into Origins of Georgian-Russian War

A delegation from Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) is blaming both Russia and Georgia for an armed conflict in August. PACE officials are also calling for an international probe into the causes of the brief war.

The leader of the PACE delegation, Luc Van den Brande of Belgium, said during a September 25 news conference that both Moscow and Tbilisi did not do enough to prevent an armed conflict during the weeks leading up to the actual outbreak of fighting in early August. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. http://www.eurasianet.org/geocrisis/ "This conflict didn't start on August 7," he pointed out. Among the confrontational incidents that occurred during the run-up to the fighting was a Russian shoot-down of an unmanned Georgian reconnaissance plane. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav042308f.shtml

The PACE delegation fact-finding tour found that the security situation remains sketchy in areas where Russian troops, along with their South Ossetian proxies, are in control. The nine-member PACE team visited several villages in South Ossetia and in the so-called Russian security zone. "They still feel insecure and ask to have patrolling," Van den Brande said. He called for the pull out of Russian forces in compliance with French-brokered peace deal and for rapid handover of the areas to Georgian police.

The PACE delegation members expressed opposition to Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Georgia's two separatist entities, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "The principle of the territorial integrity of Georgia is as matter of fact -- a point of principle," Van den Brande said.

PACE members urged the international community to keep on providing humanitarian assistance, and to promote the return of internally displaced persons.

The autumn session of the parliamentary assembly is due in late September to consider a draft resolution to suspend the Russian delegation's powers due to Moscow's continuing military presence in Georgia. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, published on September 24, Van den Brande expressed doubt that the resolution would gain much support among PACE members. "I believe that most parliamentarians will call for the continuation of the dialogue," he said. "Europe needs Russia and Russia needs Europe as a partner."